curl

1 of 2

verb

ˈkər(-ə)l 

curled; curling; curls

transitive verb

1

: to form into coils or ringlets

curl one's hair

2

: to form into a curved shape : twist

curled his lip in a sneer

3

: to furnish with curls

intransitive verb

1

a

: to grow in coils or spirals

b

: to form ripples or crinkles

bacon curling in a pan

2

: to move or progress in curves or spirals : wind

the path curled along the mountainside

3

: twist, contort

4

: to play the game of curling

curl

2 of 2

noun

1

: a lock of hair that coils : ringlet

2

: something having a spiral or winding form : coil

3

: the action of curling : the state of being curled

4

: a curved or spiral marking in the grain of wood

5

: a hollow arch of water formed when the crest of a breaking wave spills forward

6

: a usually short pass pattern in football in which a receiver runs downfield and then curves back toward the line of scrimmage

7

: a weight training exercise in which a weight (see weight entry 1 sense 2b) held in the hand with the palm facing up is raised and lowered by flexing only the wrist or elbow see also preacher curl

Synonyms of curl

Verb

• coil
• wind
• curve
• swirl

Noun

• wave
• lock
• ringlet
• frizz

Examples of curl in a Sentence

Verb

She curls her hair every morning.

Can you curl your tongue?

The baby's fingers were tightly curled.

The snake curled itself around its prey.

The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.

We saw smoke curling from the cottage chimney.

A snake curled around his leg.

Noun

Her daughter has cute blonde curls.

She likes to wear her hair in curls.

The conditioner will help you keep the curl of your hair.

His hair has a natural curl.

He did 12 wrist curls.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There’s nothing about the white bedding, dark-wood furniture, and tan carpeting that will knock your socks off—but nothing that will make your toes curl, either. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

The best multi-stylers bundle several styling jobs into one device, using interchangeable attachments to curl, smooth, straighten, volumize, and, in some cases, take hair from wet to dry. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

For a decade, hundreds of Black women and girls have gathered in Kansas City wearing curls, coils, locs, braids and Afros for an annual photograph intended to challenge narrow ideas about what beautiful hair is supposed to look like. — Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026

Underneath, Nicks let her natural curls run wild, cascading down her back and shoulders. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from crul curly, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German krol curly

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing curl

• curl one's lip
• curl up
• Jheri curl
• leaf curl
• make one's hair curl
• make one's toes curl
• peach leaf curl
• pin curl
• preacher curl
• spit curl

Rhymes for curl

• burl
• churl
• earl
• girl
• hurl
• merl
• merle
• perle
• swirl
• twirl
• whirl
• whorl

Kids Definition

curl

1 of 2 verb

ˈkərl 

1

: to form into or grow in coils or ringlets

curled her hair

2

: to take or move in a curved form

smoke curling from the chimney

curl

2 of 2 noun

1

: a lock of hair that coils : ringlet

2

: a spiral or winding form : coil

3

: the state of being curled

4

: a hollow place under the crest of a breaking wave

Biographical Definition

Curl

biographical name

ˈkər(-ə)l 

Robert Floyd 1933–2022 American chemist